In this podcast Alison talks about the New Zealand painter Frances Hodgkins.
This podcast was funded by a generous grant from the Gay Line Wellington Trust with the support of the Rule Foundation
Summary
This abstract summarizes a podcast presented by Dr. Alison Laurie about the notable New Zealand painter, Frances Hodgkins. The podcast explores Hodgkins' life and work, focusing on the substantial impact that their friendships and emotional connections had on their artistic career. Dr. Laurie delves into Hodgkins’ relationships, providing insights into how unconventional companionships for a person of that era facilitated Hodgkins' ability to live as an expatriate artist and develop a body of work free from the responsibilities typically assumed by married women at the time.
Frances Hodgkins, born in 1869 in Dunedin, New Zealand, is portrayed as an influential figure who harnessed support from a network of friends who were either homosexual or lesbians – a rare and crucial support system that bolstered their personal and creative life. This network included key figures such as Dorothy Kate Richmond, Constance Charolotte Astley, Arthur Lett Haines, and Cedric Morris, among others. These individuals provided emotional support and, in many cases, financial aid and professional opportunities. The significance of this network is underscored by contrasting the artistic commitment and output between Hodgkins and their sister Isabel, who abandoned their artistic pursuits after marriage.
Dr. Laurie recounts Hodgkins’ close relationship with Richmond, with whom they forged an intimate and meaningful bond that included extensive travel and shared living arrangements, as well as a professional collaboration crucial to Hodgkins' development as an artist. Hodgkins’ personal correspondence is cited, revealing deep affection and reliance on companions like Richmond during their travels and studies in Europe. Hodgkins' brief, long-distance engagement with Thomas Boughton Wilby, which ended almost as abruptly as it began, is also mentioned as a minor episode in their life.
The podcast details the latter part of Hodgkins' life, illustrating their continued reliance on friends for both personal support and professional advancement. The artist's hardships, such as being in dire financial straits at the age of 63 until rescued by Haines, are also mentioned. Their friends played pivotal roles in promoting their work; Morris actively involved in establishing their reputation within influential art societies, and Arthur Howell in selling their artwork. Moreover, Hodgkins' prominence was furthered posthumously by biographer and New Zealand figure McCormick who aided in popularizing their work in their home country.
Dr. Laurie positions Hodgkins as one of New Zealand's most significant painters, with a legacy that extends beyond their death in 1947. Their remains were returned to New Zealand, and their final resting place is shared with their mother and sister, serving as a testament to the undying interest in Hodgkins' life and work.
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